Does the primary caretaker have an advantage in custody determinations?

Yes. Courts place a great deal of weight on the primary caretaker factor because children tend to be more dependent on the primary-caretaker parent, who also tends to have more parenting experience with the child. It can also be traumatic for a child to take him or her away from a parent responsible for primary care. What constitutes a primary caretaker? A number of factors, including which parent prepares meals, which is responsible for bathing and grooming, which makes purchasing and clothing decisions, which parent handles discipline, and which parent takes the child to and from school.